Spectral Doppler Gap Filling via Data Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spectral Doppler ultrasound images often contain gaps due to interruptions from acquiring B-mode and/or color flow mode data, resulting in gap artifacts that hinder diagnostic accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A method for gap filling in spectral Doppler ultrasound data, where adjacent data is correlated to identify similar patterns, allowing for the copying of data to fill gaps, thereby reducing artifacts and improving diagnostic information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If B-mode and/or color flow mode data acquisition is performed simultaneously with spectral Doppler data acquisition, then comprehensive diagnostic information is obtained, but gap artifacts appear in the spectral Doppler image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies spectral Doppler data from time points when no gaps occur (when B-mode/color flow acquisition is not interrupting) to fill the gaps in the spectral Doppler data. This copying approach preserves the continuous spectral Doppler signal while allowing simultaneous acquisition of other imaging modes, thereby maintaining both comprehensive diagnostic information and reliable spectral Doppler images.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spectral Doppler data acquisition is interrupted to acquire B-mode and/or color flow mode data, then additional imaging information is provided, but gaps and artifacts result in the spectral Doppler data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by storing and preserving spectral Doppler data acquired during periods when no interruptions occur. This pre-acquired data is then used to fill gaps later, ensuring that the spectral Doppler information remains continuous and complete even when other imaging modes require interruption of the acquisition.
3Measurement precision
If continuous spectral Doppler data acquisition is maintained, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the ability to acquire additional imaging modes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies spectral Doppler data from non-gap time points to fill gaps, enabling the system to maintain continuous spectral Doppler data (improving diagnostic accuracy) while still allowing interruptions for other imaging modes (maintaining versatility). The copying process reconstructs the continuous spectral signal without preventing simultaneous acquisition of other imaging information.
Data Source
AI summary
Gap filling is provided in spectral Doppler ultrasound. Due to the cyclical nature of the cardiac system, data likely to be similar to data that would have been acquired without interleaving is copied into the gap generated by interleaving. Acquired data associated with the gap, such as adjacent to the gap, is correlated with other acquired data. By identifying similar data, acquired data temporally related to the similar data as the gap associated data is temporally related to the gap is found. This found data is likely to be similar to data that would have been acquired during the gap. The gap is filled with a copy of this data.